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Career as Doctor

Career as Doctor

Doctor is the only professional that is considered next to the God by the patients he cures. Body of a living being is the most sophisticated as well as the simplest working machine on this earth. Like any other man made machine this also gets wear and tear and need repairs at times. And the person who is apt to repair this machine is known as Vaid/Hakim or Medicine Doctor in today’s parlance.

There was a time when this noblest work was considered as a service to the mankind and its creator. This was not at all considered as a profession. But with the passing time and materialization of anything and everything this noble service has also takes the shape of a profession. But even then the doctor’s at least in this part of the world are considered next to the God. This is still considered as the noblest profession in the world in spite of its losing some of its respect because of the misdeeds of some of its fraternity members. Although huge fee is charged for saving and curing the creation of the God but still most of this fraternity member consider it as their obligation to do justice to their duty with utmost care and honesty leaving some inhumane ones.

With the changed living conditions, lifestyles and high-stress levels there has been an increase in the diseases and ailments affecting the large population all over the world and specially the third world including Indian subcontinent, thereby making the role of a doctor even more important in today’s context.

Besides this, with approx. 75 million diabetes patients in India by couple of decades and several millions suffering from changed lifestyle diseases like hypertension and cancer, communicable diseases like AIDS, dengue, tuberculosis and malaria, India is set to fight a battle against these diseases for which it will require a large and efficient team of dedicated doctors. So there is a good scope for today’s younger generation to make their carrier in medicine to claim not only good monetary fortunes but also high respect in the society.

So to be a doctor requires a lot of hard work, dedication and spirit to serve the society although with some remuneration in lieu of providing its services. Besides one should have discipline, patience, commitment to excel in their respective field and self-confidence. If you have all these qualities in you then you are fit for being a doctor as it is such a field that a mistake of yours can take a precious life and ruing a family’s fortunes.

How?????

1.Eligibility to become a Doctor

Educational Qualifications

To be eligible for joining MBBS course one should be 10+2 Class pass with Physics, chemistry and Biology (PCB) as main subjects and for institutions with at least 60% marks.

2.How to become a Doctor?

One has to follow below given subjects to become a Doctor.

Step 1

Interested candidate has to appear in an entrance tests conducted by the various state and Independent bodies like NEET-UG Click me ,taken by the CBSE to admit candidates in various medical institutions attached with it according to the rank of the candidate in the entrance exam.

These exams are generally held in the month of May-June and consists of Objective type questions on the subject of English, Physics, Chemistry, Biology though number of questions and pattern may vary from test to test.

The results of these exams are generally out by June/July.

Step 2

After completing this four and half years of MBBS Degree course in which one has to study (subjects which include anatomy, biochemistry, physiology, dermatology, obstetrics and gynecology, forensic medicine and toxicology, microbiology, pathology, pharmacology, anesthesiology, community medicine, medicine, ophthalmology, orthopedics, pediatrics, psychiatry and surgery) and one years and six months compulsory training one can opt. for some job is private of state run hospitals as junior doctor, go for privates practice after obtaining the necessary affiliation with respective medical councils or go for higher specialised studies in the respective fields.

Fees and Other Expenditures: Although varying from college to college, the total course fee for an MBBS degree ranges from anywhere from few thousands at a government college to around Rs 35 lac and even higher in private institutes.

3.Doctor Career Prospects

A Doctor has good career prospects both in private sector and government sector. Starting from a Junior Doctor in a small clinic he can go upto the rank of Cheif Medical Officer (CMO) and even to the post of Director of as reputed Hospital as PGI.

Career Options Career options/Specialisations- Some of the common areas of specialisation in Medicine and Surgery are: General Practitioner or Physician: He diagnosis and treats the every day and sundry ailments of the human body. MBBS holders practice as physicians.General Surgeon: Is one who specialises in surgery for all organs of the body. He can further specialise in specific areas. Duties involve examining the patient to determine the extent and nature of injury, treatment through operation and giving post operative care. Surgery is of various types Orthopaedic, Plastic, Neuro etc.Anaesthetist or Anaesthesiologists: Administers anesthetics to a patient undergoing surgical operation according to the nature of operation. It is he who makes the surgical procedure as painless as possible. His duties involve examining the patient to determine his capacity to withstand shock of operation and anesthesia. He/she has huge responsibility and has to be present throughout the operation.Psychiatrist: Diagnoses and treats mental disorders. Psychiatry has two major branches: The first is psychotherapy, the application of psychological techniques to the treatment of mental illnesses. This branch uses non-drug therapies and will not use physical techniques such as drugs or surgery. The second branch is psychiatry, where medical therapies are used. After diagnosing physical and behavioural symptoms, drugs and other means may be used for treatment.Neurologist: Diagnosis and treats diseases related to brain and nervous system. They also specialise in Neuro-surgery.Pediatrician: Treats newborn babies and children.Ophthalmologist or Eye Specialist: Treats diseases and disorders of eyes.Pathologist: Investigate the cause of various diseases and the possibilities for their prevention. His duties involve conducting chemical, microscopic and bacteriological test in labs and examining blood, tissues, urine etc. to find out the cause for disease.Cardiologist: Also called as heart specialist. Treats diseases related to heart and circulatory system.Gynaecologist-Obstetrician: Diagnosis and treats diseases and disorders of human female reproduction system. They care for pregnant women from conception through delivery.Dermatologist: One who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of skin problems.Orthopaedist: Deals with diseases connected to skeletal system. Orthopedics is that branch of medicine that deals with the correction of deformities and prevention of disorders in joints, muscles, tendons, ligaments, cartilage, all bones and bony tissue.Gastroenterologist: Treats diseases related to liver, pancreas, stomach, intestine, bowels and gall bladderRadiologist: Diagnosis diseases and disorders by studying X-ray pictures of affected parts and gives treatment such as therapeutic radiation to affected parts of the body.ENT specialist: Treats disorders of ear, nose and throatTuberculosis Specialist: Treats ailments due to infection by tubercular diseaseVenereologist: Treats venereal or sexual diseases.Bacteriologist: Also called Microbiologist. Conducts research and laboratory experiments on occurrence, growth, development, control and utilization of bacteria and other micro-organisms.Physiologist: Studies normal functioning of different organs and tissues of human body and investigates effects of physical environments such as variations in altitude, speed, temperature etc on its vital functions.Nutritionist: Gives instructions regarding food values and utilization of foods in human body to keep it healthy and control diseases. He prescribes diet for various diseases.Chiropodist: Also called pedicurist, treats foot diseases and abnormalities. He treats corns, blisters etc using surgical instruments.

Other streams in Medicine

1.Dentistry

Dentistry deals with medical or surgical treatment of diseases and disorders related to teeth, gums and soft tissues of mouth. The basic degree is BDS- Bachelor of dental surgery for which eligibility is 10+2 with Science. At Master level (MDS) specialisation is possible in areas such as Operative Dentistry, Oral Surgery etc. Admission to the Masters Programme requires BDS plus 2 years of experience.Selection of BDS is through the same All India Entrance Examination as for MBBS. (Details in Entrance Details & Syllabus). The qualification required for entrance is 10+2 or equivalent with Science subjects. In the case of private medical colleges entrance examinations are conducted by the institutes individually.Areas of Specialization: Dentistry has many specializations: ORTHODONTICS deals with straightening and aligning teeth and jaws. PERIODONTICS specialises in the care of gums and the diseases that might affect them. OPERATIVE DENTISTRY for root canal jobs, filling and cosmetic surgery. PROSTHODONTICS involves the making of artificial teeth. ORAL SURGERY deals specifically with operation on the mouth and jaw. ORAL PATHOLOGY provides the diagnosis for diseases that affect the mouth.Job Prospects:Job opportunities include employment in government or private hospitals, Defence Services, Nursing homes, Poly- clinics, Research and Health centers, Medical colleges etc. There is also scope to do your own practice while being visiting specialists at various hospitals or visiting faculty at Medical colleges.

2.Ayurveda

Ayurveda is a very ancient system which evolved around 600 BC in India. Ayurvedic treatments are person specific rather than disorder specific. It uses mixes of natural herbs as medicine and has very effective treatment for all kinds of ailments especially paralysis.In Ayurveda, which is basically a humoural medical system, diseases are understood as an imbalance between the body’s three humors. The three humors are Vata (nerve energy), Pitta (catabolic fire energy) and Kapha (anabolic nutritive energy).Eligibility for the Bachelor course is 10+2 with Science. The duration of the Bachelor programme i.e. BAMS- Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery (Ayurvedacharya) is five and half years including six months of internship. For Post graduate study, ‘Ayurvedachaspati’, the period of study is three years. Ph.D is also awarded in Ayurveda (Ayurvedavidyavariddhi) which is of two years duration.Selection of BAMS is through the same All India Entrance Examination as for MBBS. (Details in Entrance Details & Syllabus). The qualification required for entrance is 10+2 or equivalent with Science subjects. In the case of private medical colleges entrance examinations are conducted by the institutes individually.They can find employment in Government and private hospitals, charitable institutions, medical colleges and training institutes as teachers, research institutes etc. Another option most suited for them is to do private practice.

3.Homeopathy

Homeopathy is a system of medicine which is practiced on the principle, that a drug and a disease which produce similar symptoms cancel each other out in some way thereby restoring the patients to health. The principle of ‘Like can cure Like’ forms the basis of Homeopathy. It is named after the Greek words, ‘ Homeo’ meaning similar and ‘Pathos’ meaning suffering or treatment by the same. This system of healing was founded by a German doctor, Samuel Christian Hahnemann (1755) and is recognised as an effective means of treating diseases. Though this system was developed abroad, it has become an integral part of the Indian way of life. There are many institutes imparting Homeopathy courses in India.Eligibility for bachelor course i.e. BHMS (Bachelor of Homeopathic Medicine & Surgery) is 10+2 in physics, chemistry, Biology and English with minimum 45 % marks. The duration of the course is five and half years, including internship. There is also a Diploma course of four year duration. At post graduate level, there is MD in Homeopathy which is of three years duration.Selection of BHMS is through the same All India Entrance Examination as for MBBS. (Details in Entrance Details & Syllabus). The qualification required for entrance is 10+2 or equivalent with Science subjects. In the case of private medical colleges entrance examinations are conducted by the institutes individually.They can find employment in Government and private hospitals or clinics, charitable institutions, research institutes as researchers, medical colleges and training institutes as teachers etc. Another option to do private practice.

Job Prospects

They can find employment In Government or private hospitals

In Nursing homes/clinics/health departments

In medical services of the army, navy and air force, under the Ministry of Defense

In charitable institutions

In medical colleges and training institutes as teachers

In research institutes and medical colleges as researchers

In the industrial sector

Private practice/ self employment

Courses for Doctor

B.A.M.S.

B.H.M.S.

M.B.B.S.

M.D.

Entrance Exams for Doctor

All India Institute of Medical Sciences Entrance Exam

All India Post Graduate Medical Entrance Test

All India Pre-Medical / Pre-Dental Entrance Examination

Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences Entrance Exam

Annamalai University - All India Medical Entrance Exam

Delhi University Medical-Dental Entrance Test

Delhi University Post Graduate Medical Entrance Test

Delhi University Super-speciality Entrance Test

Dr. D.Y. Patil Institute All India Common Entrance Test for MBBS and BDS

Haryana Pre-Medical Test

Himachal Pradesh Combined Pre Medical Entrance Test

Jawaharlal Institute of Post-graduate Medical Education and Research Entrance Exam

Madhya Pradesh All India Dental & Medical Admission Test

Madhya Pradesh Pre-Medical Test

Maharashtra Post Graduate Medical, Postgraduate Dental Entrance Exam

Maharashtra Superspeciality Entrance Test

Mahatma Gandhi Dental College and Hospital - Joint Entrance Test

Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Medical Science Entrance Exam

Mahatma Gandhi Medical College and Research Institute Entrance Exam

Manipal Pre Medical Test

Punjab Medical Entrance Test

Rajasthan Pre-Medical Test

Uttar Pradesh Combined Medical Entrance Test

Uttar Pradesh Combined Pre Medical Test

Uttaranchal Pre-Medical Test

Doctor Salary

There is a lot of scope for those who are joining medicine as career in the present scenario. Apart from joining a private or government hospital as a junior doctor, younger doctors can find lucrative placements with huge salaries in corporate hospitals With starting salary anywhere between Rs 15,000 to Rs 25,000 depending upon the competence of the individual doctor There is a lot of money in private practice as well and it only gets better for candidates as they win the trust of the patients and the goodwill is spread by word of mouth to attract more patients to the clinic.

With a boom in the healthcare sector, there are other areas too where medicine professionals are highly in demand. MBBS doctors can find placements in hospitals like Wockhardt Hospitals which promote medical tourism.

A couple of years dedicated work and some experience along with a masters degree could lead a doctor to a pay package of nearly Rs. one lac per month. There is no upper ceiling to the earnings of a competent and capable doctor. One can also be a visiting doctor at several hospitals and charge by the hour.